Chelsea forward Cole Palmer will be ruled out for "six more weeks" with a groin injury, manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday.

Maresca had previously said that Palmer would likely return after this month's international break as he had avoided the need to undergo surgery.

"I was wrong, unfortunately, he needs to be out for six more weeks," Maresca said. "So, yes, this is the update."

"We try just to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is that when he comes back he's fully fit.

"Unfortunately the medical staff are not magicians. You never know that [timeframe]. Probably he needs six weeks. We hope six weeks are enough. It's a problem we need to see step by step, week after week.

"He looks relaxed. He's doing all the therapy that he needs to do. He looks good."

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